"Diet Defence!"

healthfoods.com

Tea, garlic, broccoli….sound like I’m making a grocery list? Well, it’s more like a medicine list. You’d be surprised to find how much help we can get protecting ourselves from those horrible infections which always seem to be “going around” from our very own kitchens! Mother nature, in all her wisdom, has created and given us the ability to build our immunity and strengthen our bodies defenses against disease just by eating right. Here are some easy ways to stay happy and healthy all year long.


Almonds – Can you believe this? A yummy snack which is also good for you?? Its true, almonds contain natural ingredients which make this food a great stress buster J Plus with the Vitamin E it contains, it effectively works to help your body combat disease. Need I say more? Just carry a small container with you to work everyday and you have the perfect mind-afternoon snack which also (amazingly) helps you deal with your cranky boss!

Watermelon – besides the fact that it tastes absolutely fabulous (who can resist a slice of cold, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day?),this fruit is also wonderfully hydrating and also works to improve the effectiveness of the digestive system. In fact, being a natural laxative it’s one of the healthiest ways to deal with constipation. On a more pleasant note, it also contains powerful antioxidants which help to strengthen immunity and fight infections.

Oranges - there is a god girls and boys. Because the orange is yet another example of something that not going tastes fantastic, making your tummy smile, but is also super-good for you! Packed with high amounts of vitamin C, your friendly juicy orange is the perfect natural remedy to protect you against colds and flues (of course that doesn’t mean you need to stop your multi-vits coz you need full power strength to fight the flues out there these days!)

Button Mushrooms – filled with B vitamins and antioxidants, these little guys can play a vital role is strengthening your immune system – keeping you flu-free all season while people around you seem to be dropping like flies!

Cabbage – easy to find, especially now in the cold season, cabbage is loaded with disease-fighting agents. Toss it in with a fresh salad, steam it, make it a soup, or serve it as a sabzi, you wont regret getting enough of its green goodness.

"Get Your Daily Dose"

smallbites.andybellatti.com

You know how mom always nags you about " An apple a day, blah, bhah," keeping the doctor away? Turns out, she's sorta, kinda, ummm right!!! who knew??


But its true guys, ever since I started taking my daily multi-vitamin (just one cute pink pill), I feel like my energy levels have been amped, my naturally cheerful personality seems to have developed an ever sunnier disposition, my skin, hair and eyes are literally shining, in short, I feel fantastic! But the best part is that I honestly cannot for the life of me, remember the last time I was home sick with a dreaded nasty, achy-painy, life-sucking,feel-like-u-want-to-cry-for-mommy flu.


And even if i ever do get bitten by some strange mutated new syndrome, "viral fever", crazy rat/bird flu,or any other kind of bug, I seem to bounce back from it, and back to my healthy energetic self in a maximum of two days....this I have tested people. Long story short, taking your regular dose of a multivitamin is good for you all round. These little pink/white/you pick your shade capsules are packed with antioxidants, minerals, and of course vitamins which basically optimize the functioning capacity of your body's organs while strengthening your immune system. And the stronger your immunity, the easier it is for you to totally resist any infection attempting to attack your body.

So be smart in these days of swine flu, and take your daily dose of the good stuff!

You can find multivitamins for both men and women at your nearest GNC, or just talk to your doctor for some more brand options.

"Fact vs Fiction: The Truth about Colds!"

ayushveda.com

You know how the minute your mom starts to tell you her opinion on practically anything, it’s like magically we all hit the mute button in our heads and suddenly are able to totally block out anything that’s coming out of her mouth?? When all you see are her lips moving but really can’t hear a thing? Except maybe something that sounds a lot like blahblahblahblahblah…?? Well, let me tell you, sometimes our mothers are actually way smarter than we give them credit for! And here’s one subject on which they ALWAYS had something to say: your COLD!


Mamma always said….

“Feed the cold, starve the fever”

Verdict: Fiction. Although this phrase may sound so familiar to many of us having grown up hearing it from parents, teachers, and even doctors, research shows that there is actually no real evidence to indicate this to be true. Today’s doctors advice? Just listen to your body. If you are hungry, eat something simple and light (fruit, toast, soup preferably home cooked!)

“Wash your hands with soap!”

Verdict: Fact. This is probably the smartest piece of advice your mother ever gave you. Rinsing your hands before and after you eat your meals, as well as after coming in contact with any unhygienic surfaces will be sure to kill those nasty viruses before they get the chance to attack your immune system (or before you spread them to other people). Colds particularly, are commonly caught by touching something or someone who has the virus and then touching ones own mouth or nose. The best way to prevent the sniffles? Washing your hands thoroughly (and regularly) with a good soap (Dettol Liquid Hand soap is great!) or even using a hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to a clean bathroom and soap.

“Chicken soup for the snifflingsneezy soul”

 Verdict: Fact. Sounds crazy? But guess what, some limited studies show that having a bowl of chicken soup when you are down with a cold, may actually help you to recover sooner. Not to mention the fact that consuming a nice, warm liquid will also help to decongest the chest and sinus. Time to stock up on Knorr’s Chicken soup for the next rainy day cold!

“Take lots of Vitamin C”

Verdict: Maybe so, maybe not. Some research suggests that taking vitamin c can help prevent colds as well as speed up the process of recovery from them, while others actually suggest that too much of the stuff can be a bad thing. Again, here most docs will advise you to take that extra “sunshine vitamin” only if it helps you.

“Drink lots of liquids”

Verdict: Fact. Mom was definitely right about this one guys! And the good news is, besides alcohol, it doesn’t matter what you drink, as long as you are regularly rehydrating your body with fluids (think green tea, fruit juice, water, nimbu paani, coconut water, even coffee!)